For the very first time, tablets are poised to outsell PCs in a quarter, according to market analyst IDC. Riding on a consistent growth curve, tablets are expected to outsell PCs (desktops, laptops) in Q4-2013, although year-wide, PCs will have outsold tablets.

Tablets are easier to gift than PCs, and offer a disruptive evolutionary path to personal computing, which in some cases, is more affordable than PCs. That could contribute to tablets' success in Q4, where in most mature markets, the winter shopping season will go underway.

Shoppers will be spoiled for choice with tablets. In addition to the expected next-generation iPad and iPad mini 2, there will be Nexus 7 (2013), the various 6-inch class handhelds (which are counted as tablets), Nokia's Lumia 1520 "Bandit," Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition), among others.